The Delta Sonics – Concrete Hotel
Self Released
10 tracks/44 minutes
This Colorado blues band mixes their brand of blues with a heavy dose of swing, NOLA, Delta and Rock and Roll music. They are a solid band whom I’ve enjoyed in the past and here they have added Chicago to Colorado transplant Ken Saydak on piano to sweeten the mix.
It’s a hot group of players. Al Chesis fronts the band, plays harp and plays guitar on a couple of tracks. Bob Pelligrino play guitar, Alissa Chesis is on bass, and Willie Panker is on drums except for a pair of cuts featuring Andreas Schmid.
Lots of great guitar, harp and piano are featured on the opening track “Brand New Clown.” It’s a jumping cut about interesting relationships. The harp is dirty and cool, the piano and guitar are vibrant and it serves as a fine opener for the album. “Backtrackin Again” follows with more swinging and jumping blues. This one is an instrumental with a great run of greased up harp to enjoy.
Next us is “Raised By Wolves,” a great, slow Chicago blues with guitar and harp and done in a Howlin’ Wolf style. Al growls out the vocal lead and Saydak tinkles the keys with style. “Don’t Wanna Be Your Starter” is a slick cut where Al tells his woman he just wants to be her second stringer or pinch hitter, not wanting full time responsibility as a friend with benefits. The guitar work is solid and then we get some nice piano and later harp soloing– well done.
“Squeeze Mama” is a cool slower shuffle with nice picking throughout. Saydak’s “Just Sayin’” follows, a ramping good time on piano. His barrelhouse style is super as he shows his mastery of the 88 keys.
“What’s Your Trip” is next, another cut above fading relationships. More cool guitar, piano and harp to savor here. “My Life’s an Open Book” is another slow blues shuffle with delightful guitar and another relationship gone wrong. Al adds another cool harp solo to round out the tune.
The title track features a little slide as Al wishes his baby well as she and he hit the highway, the concrete hotel. The guitar rings and slides sweetly as Chesis bemoans being broke. The final cut is Little Walter’s “Blue and Lonesome.” Slow and glorious Chicago blues done right is what this tune is all about. Chesis howls out the lyrics, the guitar emotes lonesome notes, the chromatic harp is full of woe as is the piano in this down and dirty conclusion to a fine album.
This is a really good set of tunes, 9 originals (8 penned by Chesis and 1 by Saydak) and a really nice cover song. Blues lovers will regale in this mix of jumping and swinging stuff along with some traditional tracks. There is nothing to dislike here, these guys are the real deal. I highly recommend this album!
